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A little confidence…

This article was taken from Andrew's What Should Have Happened Book

“Fortune favours the bold” is especially true at the bridge table, where confident-sounding bids on slender values reap dividends.


South Deals
N-S Vul
♠ K Q J 3
8 7 4 2
10 8 3 2
♣ K
♠ 10 8 6 5
A J
9 7
♣ Q J 10 9 8
N
W   E
S
♠ 9 4 2
6 3
A K Q J 5
♣ 7 4 2
  ♠ A 7
K Q 10 9 5
6 4
♣ A 6 5 3
West North East South
      1
Pass 3 4 4
Pass Pass Pass
4 by South

Yes - East’s 4 bid was unsound. But by sounding confident, his opponents had no idea his playing strength was so feeble. South naturally went on to 4 - how could he know that 4 would have gone four down?

East had put his head on the block to attract a lead against a contract and West duly obliged. His 9 opening lead was won by East’s J; East cashed A and continued with K. If declarer had trumped with 9, West would have overtrumped with J. But when declarer trumped with Q, West simply discarded and waited to score two trump tricks later. His J had been promoted into the setting trick.

Note that if East had kept quiet, West would surely have led ♣Q. Winning dummy’s ♣K, declarer would play ♠3 to ♠A, ♠7 to ♠J and cash ♠Q, discarding a . His best play would then be to lead ♠K and discard his second . He would lose just two trump tricks.

ANDREW’S TIP: Play bridge with confidence - especially when making a frisky bid!

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